Clark is backed for manager

The welcome mat was placed last night for Christopher Clark, a resident of neighboring Sturbridge, to serve as the next town manager here.

The decision came hours after chief competitor and former Northbridge manager William F. Williams took himself out of the running.

Mr. Clark, 42, was unanimously recommended last night by a Town Council subcommittee.

Currently town administrator in Vernon, Conn., Mr. Clark said he was pleasantly surprised and realized that Mr. Williams has a lot of experience.

Mr. Clark, who was interviewed for a second time last night, said he appreciated councilors giving him the nod, and looked forward to a successful contract negotiation. In the meantime, he said he was not jumping the gun.

The nine-member Town Council will hold another subcommittee meeting Monday night to frame a baseline contract, and afterward is expected to name Mr. Clark their man.

Mr. Williams, in a phone interview, said that after reading yesterday’s Telegram & Gazette report about Wednesday night’s subcommittee meeting, he assessed his chances and viewed them as very limited.

During that meeting, five councilors proclaimed Mr. Clark their first choice, while two favored Mr. Williams.

Steven S. Lazo on Wednesday asserted Mr. Williams was short on retirement and sought a return to Massachusetts primarily for that reason. He said Mr. Clark may have greater intentions of longevity, and a plus for Mr. Clark is he’s a family man and is younger.

Mr. Williams, 60, said he took exception.

Mr. Williams, who worked in Northbridge from 1997 to 2003, said he moved to New York five years ago to take care of his father and mother-in-law, who died last year. He has decided to return to Massachusetts, if possible. He said he would like to be near his son, a resident of Winchester, who recently graduated from college.

Mr. Williams was also village manager in Mount Kisco, N.Y., where he lives.

Any perception his career travels aren’t motivated by family are “totally wrong,” Mr. Williams said.

Meanwhile, Robert F. King, one of the two councilors who did not attend Wednesday’s meeting, said last night he also favored Mr. Clark.

Mr. Clark said he reviewed predecessor Clayton R. Carlisle’s contract and found many of its components acceptable. He said his Vernon pact allows him to teach.

Mr. Carlisle and John F. Healey, who served for five months as interim manager, were paid $114,757 a year.

After the meeting, Mr. Clark said he is making about $120,000.

Mr. Clark told councilors he wasn’t in a position to take a reduction in pay, in part because he bought a home three years ago and didn’t want his wife, an on-call nurse, to have to work additional hours.

Councilor Pamela A. Regis, a member of the search committee, stated consultant Thomas Groux had telephoned Mr. Clark and told him he was the only candidate left.

That, the consultant reportedly said, could be good or bad, because the process could be restarted.

Laurent E. McDonald, one of the two councilors who preferred Mr. Williams, said he had no problem moving forward with Mr. Clark.

Mr. McDonald said it would be fruitless to start over the time-consuming and expensive process.

Mr. Clark told councilors he could benefit the community because he likes projects, and sees opportunities here for renovating old mills, and with the municipal airport and not-realized industrial road.

Mr. Clark said he wanted to focus on recruiting businesses, in coordination with Economic Development Director Cassandra M. Acly. He said he was willing to be a spokesperson, as the model of sitting back and businesses finding you is outdated.

Honesty, integrity and using gut instinct were among core values he said he fell back on for making important decisions.

Mr. Clark also spoke with pride about a $1.2 million Vernon Town Hall project funded by a state grant that cured eight years of unusable space in the building.

Architectural flaws, the need to get bidders to come down on quotes, and the need to find an extra $200,000 were among many obstacles overcome at no expense to Vernon taxpayers, he said.

To prepare for his initial interview, Mr. Clark said he met with Mr. Healey, Fire Chief Richard J. Ciesla, Finance Director Karen S. Harnois, and Ms. Acly. He said he also reviewed the town’s primary official statement and charter.